27 original Reading & Writing questions in the digital test's own format and domain order. Answer them all, then submit once to see every answer explained.
Optional. The clock never submits for you — it just tells you where you are against the real pacing.
The band's sound grew increasingly ______ over the course of the album, layering in strings, horns, and electronic textures atop the original guitar-and-drum lineup.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
C — elaborate. Layering in strings, horns, and electronic textures atop the original lineup describes an increasingly complex, built-up sound. 'Elaborate' fits; 'minimal' suggests the opposite, a stripped-down sound.
The mayor's proposal to close the downtown streets to car traffic was met with ______ opposition from shop owners, who worried that reduced car access would drive away customers.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A — vocal. Shop owners actively worrying and presumably speaking out about lost customers suggests loud, outspoken opposition. 'Vocal' fits; 'muted' and 'imaginary' both contradict active worry being expressed.
The novel's narrator is famously ______: readers gradually realize that many of the events described may not have happened as the narrator claims.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A — unreliable. Readers realizing events may not have happened as claimed describes a narrator whose account cannot be trusted. 'Unreliable' fits precisely; 'reliable' is the direct opposite.
The playwright's dialogue is often praised for its ______ quality: characters rarely say exactly what they mean, leaving audiences to infer true intentions from subtext.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
C — oblique. Characters not saying exactly what they mean, requiring inference from subtext, describes indirect, slanted communication. 'Oblique' fits; 'transparent' and 'literal' both contradict this indirectness.
The essay begins by conceding that automation has increased efficiency in manufacturing, but the majority of the text focuses on documenting the loss of institutional knowledge that occurs when experienced workers are replaced by machines.
Which choice best describes the function of the first sentence in relation to the rest of the text?
C — It concedes a benefit before shifting focus to a related drawback.. Conceding a benefit (efficiency) before pivoting to spend most of the essay on a drawback (lost institutional knowledge) is a concession-then-shift structure, not the central thesis itself, an anecdote, or a disproven counterargument.
The essay's closing paragraph returns to the childhood memory from its opening, this time reinterpreting it in light of the psychological research presented throughout the body of the essay.
Which choice best describes the function of the closing paragraph?
A — It reframes the opening memory using the evidence just presented.. Returning to reinterpret the opening memory using evidence developed throughout the essay is a reframing of the initial material, not a new question, an undermining of evidence, or an audience shift.
Text 1: Novelist Teodoro Vasquez argues that translated literature inevitably loses something essential, since the translator's own voice and interpretive choices are woven into every line. Text 2: Translator and novelist Iris Chen argues that translation is itself a creative act that can add new dimensions of meaning to a text, rather than simply subtracting from an original that can never truly be reproduced anyway.
Chen would most likely respond to Vasquez's claim by arguing that
C — the translator's creative contribution can add meaning rather than merely diminish the original.. Chen's stated position frames translation as adding new dimensions of meaning through a creative act—directly opposing Vasquez's framing of translation as simply losing something essential.
Text 1: Urban planner Naomi Berg advocates for converting unused downtown parking garages into affordable housing units, arguing that the structural conversion is cheaper than new construction. Text 2: Structural engineer Felix Amara notes that many parking garages were not built to support the plumbing, insulation, and ventilation systems residential units require, meaning conversions often involve costly structural modifications that can offset much of the savings Berg describes.
Which choice best describes how the information in Text 2 relates to the proposal described in Text 1?
A — It raises a practical cost concern not addressed in Text 1's description of the proposal.. Amara's point about costly structural modifications introduces a practical cost concern that Berg's description (focused on general cost savings) does not mention—a new complication, not a confirmation or refutation of feasibility.
A recent survey of gym members found that the most commonly cited reason for canceling a membership was not cost, as many gym owners assume, but a lack of variety in available classes and equipment.
According to the text, what did the survey identify as the most common reason for canceling a membership?
A — A lack of variety in classes and equipment.. The text explicitly states the most common reason was 'a lack of variety in available classes and equipment,' explicitly ruling out cost as the assumed but incorrect answer.
Sequoia trees, among the largest living organisms on Earth by volume, survive periodic wildfires thanks to bark that can grow over a foot thick, insulating the tree's living tissue from the intense heat that would destroy most other species.
According to the text, how do sequoia trees survive periodic wildfires?
D — Their thick bark insulates living tissue from the fire's intense heat.. The text directly attributes fire survival to 'bark that can grow over a foot thick, insulating the tree's living tissue from the intense heat'—matching choice D; the other options contradict or are unsupported by the text.
A food scientist claims that a newly developed plant-based yogurt alternative achieves a tangy flavor profile more similar to dairy yogurt than earlier plant-based alternatives did.
Which finding would most directly support the food scientist's claim?
A — In blind taste tests, a significantly higher percentage of participants rated the new alternative as indistinguishable in tanginess from dairy yogurt compared with the percentage who rated earlier alternatives that way.. The claim is specifically about tanginess as perceived by consumers; a blind taste test showing improved indistinguishability rates directly measures this perception. Market share, consumer concern, and calcium content don't address perceived tanginess.
A political scientist claims that candidate debates moderated by local journalists, rather than national ones, are more effective at increasing engagement among rural voters specifically.
Which finding would most directly support the political scientist's claim?
C — An analysis of past debates found that events moderated by local journalists drew a significantly higher proportion of engaged rural viewers than events moderated by national journalists on comparable topics.. The claim specifically concerns comparative engagement effectiveness of local vs. national moderation among rural voters; a finding directly comparing engagement by moderator type supports this. Recognition, frequency, and debate length don't address engagement effectiveness.
A researcher paired monthly average humidity with the count of dehumidifier service calls in an apartment complex:
| March | 41% humidity, 4 calls |
|---|---|
| April | 58% humidity, 12 calls |
| May | 71% humidity, 27 calls |
| June | 76% humidity, 33 calls |
A property manager states that service calls rise alongside humidity levels across these months.
Do the figures support the property manager's statement?
A — Yes, since as humidity climbs from March to June, service calls climb as well.. Both humidity (41%→76%) and calls (4→33) rise together across the four months, a consistent positive pattern supporting the statement; choice B incorrectly claims June had the lowest humidity, when it had the highest.
A researcher tracked the number of farmers' market vendors and average weekly vendor revenue across five market locations:
| Location A | 8 vendors, $420 avg. revenue |
|---|---|
| Location B | 15 vendors, $610 avg. revenue |
| Location C | 22 vendors, $580 avg. revenue |
| Location D | 30 vendors, $710 avg. revenue |
| Location E | 12 vendors, $390 avg. revenue |
Which choice best describes the relationship shown in the table?
A — Locations with more vendors did not always have higher average vendor revenue than locations with fewer vendors.. Location C had more vendors (22) than Location B (15) but lower average revenue ($580 vs. $610), showing the relationship is not perfectly consistent—matching choice A, not the absolute claim in choice B.
In a laboratory experiment, seedlings exposed to brief, intermittent gusts of simulated wind each day developed thicker, sturdier stems than genetically identical seedlings grown in completely still air with the exact same light and water conditions.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A — light and water conditions alone may not fully determine stem development.. Since light and water were identical but the wind exposure changed the outcome, this suggests factors beyond light and water—like mechanical stimulation—matter, supporting choice A.
The city's oldest bridge closed for repairs last month, it will reopen sometime in early spring.
Which choice fixes the sentence boundary error?
B — month. It. The original is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma. Choice B correctly separates them into two sentences with a period; choice A adds an unnecessary comma after 'and.'
The orchard's fall festival features four attractions, however, only two remain open on weekdays.
Which choice fixes the sentence boundary error?
D — attractions; however, only. 'However' here connects two independent clauses and needs a semicolon (or period) before it, with a comma after. Choice D correctly uses a semicolon before 'however' and a comma after it, fixing the comma splice in the original.
Although the experiment produced promising results the researchers cautioned that further trials would be necessary before any conclusions could be drawn.
Which choice fixes the punctuation error?
D — results, the researchers. 'Although the experiment produced promising results' is a dependent introductory clause that requires a comma before the main clause begins. Choice D correctly adds this comma.
The city's water treatment plant closed unexpectedly last month, it will resume normal operations once repairs are complete.
Which choice fixes the sentence boundary error?
C — month. It. The original is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma. Choice C correctly separates them into two sentences with a period; choice D adds an unnecessary comma after 'and.'
Not only the lead violinist but also the other members of the quartet ______ required to attend every rehearsal without exception.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
B — were. In a 'not only...but also' construction, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it—here, the plural 'other members.' The plural past-tense verb 'were' is correct.
The data collected from the air-quality sensors ______ reviewed by a team of environmental scientists before the advisory was issued.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
D — were. In formal Standard English, 'data' is treated as a plural noun (the plural of 'datum'), requiring the plural past-tense verb 'were.'
The mayor's proposed budget, along with several accompanying policy memos, ______ submitted to the city council last Tuesday.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
B — was. The subject of the sentence is the singular 'budget'; 'along with several accompanying policy memos' is a parenthetical phrase that does not change the subject's number. The singular past-tense verb 'was' agrees with 'budget.'
The lecture covered the chemistry of fermentation in exhaustive detail. ______, it devoted almost no time to the cultural history of fermented foods across different societies.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — However,. Detailed coverage of chemistry but little coverage of cultural history is a contrast in emphasis. 'However' correctly signals this shift.
The small publishing house had no marketing budget and only two full-time employees. ______, one of its first releases became an unexpected international bestseller.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — Yet,. Success despite limited resources is a contrast to what one might expect. 'Yet' signals this contrast; 'consequently' would incorrectly suggest the limited resources caused the success.
The lecture covered the mechanics of tectonic plate movement in exhaustive detail. ______, it devoted almost no time to the historical development of plate tectonic theory itself.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — However,. Detailed coverage of mechanics but little coverage of historical development is a contrast in emphasis. 'However' correctly signals this shift.
A student is writing about a conservation effort and has taken the following notes:
The student wants to emphasize the scale of the population's recovery since its lowest point. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
B — From a low of just 27 individuals in 1987, the total condor population had grown to over 500 by 2023.. The goal is to emphasize the scale of recovery; choice B directly contrasts the lowest point (27) with the later total (500+), illustrating the scale of change. The other choices state intermediate steps without this direct before-and-after comparison.
A student has collected the following notes about an inventor:
The student wants to explain why Morgan invented his traffic signal design. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
D — After witnessing a serious accident caused by a two-position signal's lack of a clearing interval, Morgan designed a three-position signal to give traffic time to clear safely.. The goal is to explain the reason behind the invention; choice D connects the accident he witnessed directly to the specific safety feature (the clearing interval) he added. The other choices provide related but insufficient or off-target information.
Score:
Every question above is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted, any wrong option you picked is flagged, and each explanation is open.
No. Every question is original, written to the College Board's published Digital SAT Reading & Writing test specification. No retired or copyrighted College Board material appears anywhere on this site.
27 questions in 32 minutes — about 71 seconds per question. The full Reading & Writing section is two such modules, 54 questions in 64 minutes.
Craft and Structure 8, Information and Ideas 7, Standard English Conventions 7, Expression of Ideas 5 — 27 questions in total, matching the College Board's published domain weighting for one module and grouped in the order the digital test presents them.
No. On the real test your performance on the first Reading & Writing module decides whether the second module is the easier or harder version, and that choice affects your score. A static practice module cannot reproduce that, so treat this as one fixed module of mixed difficulty rather than a scored simulation.
No. The SAT has no penalty for a wrong answer — a blank and a wrong guess both score zero — so answer every question, including the ones you have to guess.